Art and craft exhibition opened

Member for Peats, Ms Marie Andrews, and Cr Lynne Bockholt were among the 150 people who attended the Ettalong Senior Citizens' Centre on Friday, November 23, for the official opening of the Ettalong Beach Arts and Crafts Centre's 2001 exhibition and sale.

Centre president Dorothy Mulholland introduced Jocelyn Maughan, co-director of the Bakehouse Gallery at Patonga, to officially open the exhibition and sale.

Jocelyn, during her address, praised the high standard of the exhibits across the Centre's various arts and crafts.

She made special mention of the quality of the pottery and paid tribute to long-serving member Penny Riley who studied pottery at East Sydney Technical College around the period that Jocelyn was a student in art at the National Art School.

The Centre's vice-president Thelma Brown made a presentation of the first Honorary Life Membership of Ettalong Beach Arts and Crafts Centre to Penny.

Guests were told that following her formal training at East Sydney Technical College in the 1960s, Penny supplemented her training with private studies.

She took study tours to countries such as Peru, Mexico, Greece, Japan, Iran, the UK and USA. Penny moved to the Central Coast in 1982, beginning her tutoring at the centre in 1985.

Thelma paid tribute to Penny's dedication and perseverance, which had been rewarded by her negotiating with Gosford Council to allow the centre to take possession of a decrepit building in Kitchener Park which was subsequently converted into a modern well-equipped pottery.

Penny was also instrumental in providing for the addition of a further room to complete the new EBACC to cater for a diverse range of arts and crafts.

For further information on the Centre and its courses for 2002, phone 4360 1673.

Brian Lourey, November 27